Great Britain's Games and Paralympic squads must embrace artificial intelligence and encourage greater teamwork to maintain their current elite results, as stated by UK Sport leader Nick Webborn.
"Our nation has been a highly prosperous nation, and to keep that standing or to even go higher, we're going to have to operate in new ways," he stated.
He emphasized the importance to "be more strategic" and "utilize technologies such as AI effectively in sport," as well as enhancing partnerships between various governing organizations.
The chairman's vision extends beyond medal ambitions. He pointed to several crucial fields where AI could offer significant benefits:
This comes after a previous declaration that British athletes would be given AI-based protection against digital harassment.
While Team GB secured 65 medals at the 2024 Paris Games, matching their London 2012 haul, their gold medal count of 14 saw them drop to seventh in the overall table.
"We want to continue punching above our weight," said Webborn. "The focus is on these little details, how we convert those second places into first places."
He also commended the Paralympic team, which has consistently placed second after China, while observing that other nations are closing the gap.
During his first interview since assuming the position, Webborn put great importance on athlete care and post-career development.
"Valuing the athletes who come into our high-performance sports system... preparing for their later life, so that the abilities they learn make them a more well-rounded person... remains extremely vital to me," he affirmed.
Webborn suggested that a caring system doesn't just creates better performers but also better people for the future.
Looking ahead, the agency is focused on bringing major competitions to Britain. Scheduled events include the 2026 European Athletics Championships and the 2028 football Euros.
Webborn also voiced a long-term "desire" to stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games again, potentially around 2040.
"Wasn't that incredible in 2012? I'd like for other people of the public to experience similar memories too," he reflected.
He mentioned that a potential bid could be innovative, perhaps featuring multiple host cities such as Liverpool and Manchester working together.
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